SPIL-ing
/ˈspɪlɪŋ/
spilling is pronounced SPIL-ing (/ˈspɪlɪŋ/). Spilling is the act of causing liquid to flow out of its container unintentionally, or the liquid that has flowed out. In everyday use, it covers both accidents (spilling water) and figurative spills (spilling secrets). The word operates as a verb-gerund form, often used in continuous or perfect contexts, and emphasizes the result of a disturbance of an amount of liquid.
Spilling is the act of causing liquid to flow out of its container unintentionally, or the liquid that has flowed out. In everyday use, it covers both accidents (spilling water) and figurative spills (spilling secrets). The word operates as a verb-gerund form, often used in continuous or perfect contexts, and emphasizes the result of a disturbance of an amount of liquid.
"She kept the bottle upright to prevent spilling."
"The coffee spilled onto the desk during the commute."
"He apologized for spilling the beans at the meeting."
You pronounce it as /ˈspɪlɪŋ/. The first syllable has primary stress: SPIL-, with the /ɪ/ in both the first and second syllables. The sequence is a short, clipped /sp/ onset, then /ɪ/ as in kit, then /l/ followed by a reduced /ɪŋ/ ending. In rapid speech, you may hear a subtle reduction in the second /ɪ/, but the primary stress remains on SPIL-.
Two common mistakes are: 1) Pronouncing it as two clear syllables without linking: SPIL-LING, which can sound choppy; ensure smooth transition from /l/ to /ɪŋ/. 2) Substituting /ɪ/ with a more open vowel like /æ/ in the first syllable (SPÆ-ling) especially in fast speech. Correct by maintaining /ɪ/ in both syllables and keeping /l/ soft but clear before the /ɪŋ/ chunk. Practicing with minimal pairs can reinforce the correct vowel quality and rhythm.
Across accents, the primary stress remains on SPIL-. In American and Canadian English, the /ɪ/ vowels are clipped and close to /ɪ/ as in ‘kit’, with a clear /l/ and a non-rhotic or lightly rhotic ending depending on speaker. UK and Australian English share the same /ˈspɪlɪŋ/ skeleton, but Australian vowels may be a touch more centralized in rapid speech, and non-rhotic tendencies can soften the ending in some contexts. Overall, the distinction is the same, with subtle vowel quality shifts and faster consonant transitions in casual speech.
The difficulty lies in maintaining a crisp /sp/ onset while preserving a short /ɪ/ in both syllables and smoothly transitioning into /l/ before the final /ɪŋ/. The /l/ must be light but audible, and the ending /ŋ/ should remain velar and nasal without elongation. The coordination of tongue blade for /s/ and /p/, lip rounding, and the alveolar /l/ require precise timing, especially in fast speech or when preceding a vowel-heavy word. Practicing with controlled syllables helps.
A unique aspect is the double-light approach in rapid speech: the transition from /l/ to /ɪ/ is a quick, almost gliding move rather than a hard consonant cluster break, so you should avoid a heavy release after /l/. Visualize the tongue tapping the alveolar ridge for /l/ and immediately curling into /ɪ/ without a strong gap. This creates the characteristic smooth, flowing SPIL- ending with a crisp -ling. IPA-focused practice with connected speech helps solidify this unique pattern.
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Spilling comes from spill, which traces to Middle English spillen, from Old English spillan (to stumble, fall, spill), akin to Dutch morsen and German verschütten, all connected to the idea of letting something fall or flow out of place. The current sense of releasing liquid emerged in Middle English as spills of liquids became common everyday descriptions. The participial -ing form marks ongoing action. Historically, spill acquired metaphorical extensions (spilling secrets, spillover) by the 16th–17th centuries as the notion of “letting something loose” broadened beyond liquids. First attested in English in the 13th century as a general term for scattering or splashing, spill morphed through usage into both physical spilling and figurative spills, paralleling other Germanic languages where spill-like roots denote leakage or release. Today, spilling as a present participle emphasizes the action in progress and is widely used in spoken and written English across registers, from casual to formal documentation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "spilling" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "spilling" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "spilling"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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